Politics

Maven's Morning Coffee: analyzing Board of Supervisors' seats, a new fire station in the Valley, West Hollywood to ban exotic animals

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LAObserved columnist Bill Boyarsky explains why termed-out L.A. County supervisors may oppose the creation of a new, Latino-dominated district. It comes down to "the long standing relationships the supervisors have with small city politicians, chambers of commerce and other business organizations, religious groups and others. These organizations comprise crucial support networks," he writes.

Did the city of Los Angeles try to pull a fast one residents in Sherman Oaks by secretly OKing a new fire station? The LA Weekly thinks so. "The Bureau of Engineering, LAFD and (former Councilman Tony) Cardenas (now in Congress) in 2009 began to plan a vast, 18,533-square-foot, $37.1 million fire station at Oxnard Street and Vesper Avenue. Residents got word just eight weeks ago, when it was all but a done deal," according to the paper.

The city of West Hollywood wants to ban the performance of wild and exotic animals, reports the Los Angeles Times. The list of animals that would be protected includes bears, badgers, kangaroos, giraffes, tapirs, armadillos and civets.

LA-based business chambers aren't too happy about the state's decision to raise the minimum wage, according to the Daily News. "This is clearly being done by people who don’t understand business," said Stuart Waldman with the Valley Industry and Commerce Association.